(UNKNOWN DATE.)
[Commemorated at Ancona, and nowhere else.]
The story of this saint, of local celebrity, is somewhat curious. In
1370, a marble tomb, on which was inscribed "Here reposes the body of
the Blessed Bishop Priamian, a Greek," was discovered under the
tabernacle, in the wall. It was opened, and found to contain a human
body. This was now enshrined in silver. But, as yet, nothing was known
of who S. Priamian was, beyond what was stated on the tomb. One night,
however, he appeared in a dream to an old woman, in Ancona, and
announced to her that he had been a martyr for the faith more than a
thousand years before, with many details, which do not deserve record,
as the revelation is very questionable.
SS. ZEBINAS, POLYCHRONIUS, MOSES, AND
DAMIAN, HH.
(5TH CENT.)
[Commemorated by the Greek Church on this day. Authority:--The
Philotheus of Theodoret, c. 24. Theodoret knew personally
Polychronius, the disciple of Zebinas, and Moses and Damian were
admitted to be disciples of Polychronius at the advice of Theodoret.
Theodoret wrote whilst these three latter were still alive.]
Zebinas, a hermit in Syria, was said to have exceeded all others of
his time in the ardour of his devotion. The bishop of Cyrus says that
he was engaged in prayer night and day, without finding his fervour
satisfied, but with ever increasing vehemence of desire. And when
people came to him for counsel, it was with an effort that he detached
his mind from heavenly meditation that he might attend to them,
impatiently desiring release that he might soar again to divine
communings. And when very old he had a staff on which he leaned to
pray. After his death he was followed in the same ascetic way of life
by his disciple Polychronius, on whom Zebinas had impressed his
spirit, just, says Theodoret, as a signet stamps its device on wax.
His mind was ever in heaven, and when he talked with those who came to
see him, it was as though his voice spoke from celestial habitations.
Theodoret, the bishop, seeing the old man worn with years and feeble,
urged him to take two disciples into his cell to tend him. He
consented, and admitted Moses and Damian. But they had not been long
with him before they ran away; "For," said they, "his manner of life
is too austere for our endurance. He stands all night in prayer, and
he urges us to lie down and sleep, but how can we, who are young and
robust, do so, when that aged and infirm man stands all night without
repose?"
Moses, however, returned to him, and served him continually, but
Damian went elsewhere, and found an old cottage, where he served God
in an ascetic life, and gradually trained himself to bear fatigue and
privations like Polychronius, so that he grew greatly to resemble him.
"In both," says Theodoret, "there is the same simplicity, and
gentleness, and moderation; the same kindliness in speech, and
sweetness in conversation; the same watchfulness of spirit,
intelligence of God, and condition of life, labours, vigils, and
fastings."